Dual-Mode Contour-Following Mop

ABSTRACT

A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface with contours is disclosed. The scrubbing implement includes a resilient base that includes a plurality of resilient fingers, each of which extend radially away from center of the base. A rigid cap comprises an inside upper end and a wider open lower end. The cap preferably includes a handle receiving means pivotally fixed to the cap for receiving a threaded end of an elongated handle. A flexible pad is included that comprises a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof. The pad has a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base. In use, the base is fixed to the cap with the attachment means. The flexible pad is fixed around the distal ends of the fingers such that the pad may be applied to the surface to scrub the surface. The fingers and flexible pad conform to the shape of the surface. An additional resilient base is provided such that with the fingers pressed firmly against the surface each of a plurality of central scrubbing nibs contacts the back side of the pad to reinforce the pad against the surface, thereby providing additional scrubbing force to the surface. An alternate embodiment having a rotational scrubbing surface driven by a motor is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/465,961, filed on Aug. 21, 2006, and incorporated herein byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to mops, and more particularly to a dual-modecontour-following mop.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Mops for cleaning cars are well known in the art. For example, thehighly successful Shawala® multi-layer mop of U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,204,to Gray et al. on Jan. 5, 1999, teaches such a device. Such mops aremade to conform to contours typical of motor vehicles, as a flat mop isessentially useless on such surfaces. The Gray device relies on theweight of water in a plurality of fingers to cause the fingers to followcontours on the surface. However, such weight is not always sufficientto create a strong enough cleaning force around such contours. Further,the central area of this device is too rigid and flat to adapt itself tocontours.

Mop devices that create a stronger cleaning force between cleaningelements and the surface to be cleaned are also known in the art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 2,727,268 to Hucke on Dec. 20, 1955, discloses amop having a resilient, deformable washing head. U.S. Pat. No. 2,682,071teaches a cleaning implement having a deformable suction foot thatforces the cleaning implement into firm contact with a surface to becleaned through an air suction means. While such devices do create astronger cleaning force for cleaning a contoured surface, such devicesare not well suited for concentrated scrubbing of areas of the surfacethat have caked-on or greasy areas in need of cleaning. For example,bird droppings, oil, or other stubborn grime is difficult to remove withsuch prior art devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,239 to Maupin on Jun. 28, 1977, also teaches adevice having resilient contour-following fingers. The Maupin device isdifficult to use due to its loose cleaning pad at the center which tendsto interfere with cleaning the surface and, during application of anydownward pressure, tends to play one side against the other, thuslimiting its effectiveness on contoured surfaces. The loose cleaningsurface, rather than applying a downward scrubbing force, reliesstrictly on the force of gravity to clean the surface. This is adrawback from which many prior art devices suffer. Further, when dippedin water, the cleaning pad will tend to sag under gravity with theweight of excess water captured between the pad and the mop. Stillfurther, the resilient fingers of such a device, when used over time,tend to lose some of their rigidity and cannot be replacedindependently.

The Maupin device, moreover, additionally includes a means forintroducing a jet of water or cleaning fluid to the surface. While sucha water jet may help remove stubborn debris to some extent, such adevice does not provide for a concentrated water jet sufficient forremoving all such debris. Further, a flexible mop pad necessarily isinterposed between the water jet and the debris, further reducing theeffectiveness of such a device.

Therefore, there is a need for a contour-following mop that, in additionto providing resilient fingers that can be forced against the surface togenerate true scrubbing action rather than a weak “mopping-only” type offorce, further provides a secondary mode wherein direct pressure of asecondary cleaning surface may be applied to stubborn debris. Such anecessary secondary cleaning surface would be rubber nibs, brushbristles, or even scraping edges, and would not interfere with theprimary cleaning surface of a flexible pad, for example. Such a neededdevice would further provide means for rotating the secondary cleaningsurface to provide a motorized spot cleaning capability. The neededdevice would further be relatively inexpensive to manufacture andassemble, easy to use and clean, and would be durable under repeateduse. When worn over time, the resilient fingers could be easilyreplaced. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface. Thescrubbing implement includes a resilient base that is comprised of aplurality of resilient fingers, each of which extends radially away fromcenter of the base. Each finger includes a distal end opposite aproximal end. A rigid cap comprises an inside upper end and a wider openlower end. The cap preferably includes a handle receiving meanspivotally fixed to the cap for receiving one end of an elongated handle.

A flexible pad is included that comprises a cleaning surface on a lowerside thereof. The pad has a peripheral lip forming an aperture in thepad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base.Additionally, the center of the pad is attached to the center of thebase to provide a close attachment to the entire lower base plane. Inuse, the base is fixed to the cap with an attachment means that forcesthe fingers of the base to extend downward in a radial fashion. Theflexible pad is fixed at the center of the resilient base and around thedistal ends of the fingers such that the pad may be applied to thesurface to scrub the surface. The fingers and flexible pad conform tothe shape of the surface.

Preferably a secondary resilient base is affixed under the resilientbase. The secondary resilient base is of sufficient thickness to makecontact with a surface to be cleaned when the primary resilient base isin a fully compressed position. The flexible pad preferably has anopening in the center of roughly the size of the secondary resilientbase. In this case the flexible pad is attached to the resilient base ina ring fashion at the center in addition to the attachment at theperiphery. Preferably, a secondary pad having different scrubbingcharacteristics than the main flexible pad is mounted to the bottom ofthe secondary base. The secondary pad may include at least one scrubbingnib for contacting the surface to be cleaned. As such, with the fingerspressed firmly against the surface, each of the scrubbing nibs contactsthe surface, thereby providing additional scrubbing force to thesurface. Preferably each scrubbing nib is a resilient rubber material, abrush material, a scraping material with a scraping edge, or the like.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the scrubbing implementfurther includes a liquid-tight motor rigidly attached to the outside ofthe cap. The motor has a rotating motor shaft that projects into theinterior of the cap and extends through the resilient base and theflexible pad, preferably through a hollow aperture in the attachmentmeans. The motor is electrically connected to a power source, and aswitch is electrically disposed therebetween for selectively activatingthe motor. Alternately, the motor may be activated by a switch that isdepressed when upward pressure is exerted on the motor shaft.

The secondary resilient base is affixed to the motor shaft, preferablyin a readily detachable fashion. A secondary flexible pad is fixed tothe secondary resilient base and includes a cleaning surface on a lowerside thereof. The secondary resilient base may instead be a brush or ascraper, for instance. In use, such an embodiment allows for motorizedrotational scrubbing of the surface when the fingers are in thecompressed orientation and the switch is actuated.

The present device is a contour-following mop that, in addition toproviding padded resilient fingers that may be forced against thesurface, further provides a secondary mode wherein direct pressure of asecondary cleaning surface may be applied to clean stubborn debris. Thesecondary cleaning surface may be a firm scrubbing pad, resilient rubbernibs, brush bristles, or even scraping edges, and does not interferewith the primary cleaning surface. The present invention furtherprovides means for rotating the secondary cleaning surface to provide amotorized spot cleaning capability. The present device is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and clean, and is durable underrepeated use. The resilient fingers may be easily replaced as they wearout over time. Other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following more detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by wayof example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a scrubbingimplement detached from an elongated handle of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generallyalong lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating a resilient base withradially-extending fingers in an uncompressed configuration;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generallyalong lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating a secondary resilient basewith scrubbing nibs on a lower surface thereof;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generallyalong lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the resilient base with theradially-extending fingers in a compressed configuration, the scrubbingimplement and the resilient base engaged with a surface to be cleaned;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generallyalong lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the secondary base andscrubbing nibs reinforcing the center of the flexible pad;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally alonglines 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the secondary resilient base withthe plurality of scrubbing nibs, the nibs for making contact with thesurface to be cleaned;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the secondaryresilient base, illustrating a recess in the secondary resilient basefor complete encompassment of a head of a bolt;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of thesecondary resilient base, illustrating a plurality of scraping edgesattached thereto and to the head of the bolt;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the bolt;

FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of thesecondary resilient base, illustrating a plurality of brush bristlesattached thereto and to the head of the bolt;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention, illustrating a motor and a motor shaft connected to anadditional rotating cleaning surface;

FIG. 7 is a bottom-plan view of the additional rotating cleaning surfaceof FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention, illustrating a flexible pad having a plurality of absorbentmop strands each fixed at one end thereof to the cleaning surface of thepad; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a scrubbing implement 10 for cleaning a surface20. The scrubbing implement 10 includes a resilient base 30 thatincludes a plurality of resilient fingers 50, each of which are joinedat a proximal end 60 to a hub 40 and extend radially away therefrom.Each finger 50 includes a distal end 70 opposite the proximal end 60.Preferably the hub 40 further includes a central aperture 80therethrough. The resilient base 30 is preferably made from a resilientfoam material such as EVA, or the like.

A rigid cap 90 comprises an inside upper end 120 and a wider open lowerend 125. A side portion 100, preferably frusta-conical in shape, isfixed at a top end 110 thereof to the upper end 120 of the cap 90. Theupper end 120 preferably includes a central aperture 130 at leastpartially therethrough. The cap 90 preferably includes a handlereceiving means 340 fixed to the cap 90 for pivotally receivingpreferably a threaded end 350 of an elongated handle 360 (FIGS. 1 and6), but may be adapted for receiving a snap-in end of an elongatedhandle (not shown), or any other type of commonly-used handle. The cap90 is preferably made from a rigid plastic material, but can also beformed from wood or metal, if desired.

A flexible pad 150 is included that comprises a cleaning surface 160 ona lower side 152 thereof. The pad 150 has an elastic ring 153 around itsperiphery, forming an aperture 180 in the pad 150 for receiving thedistal ends 70 of each finger 90 of the base 30. The pad 150 is mountedto the base 30 by inserting the distal ends of the fingers 50 into aperipheral lip 170 and held in place securely by the elastic ring 153.It is additionally attached to the base 30 with an attachment means 145,such as hook-and-loop type material (FIGS. 3A and 3B), mechanical snaps(not shown), or the like. The attachment means 145 ensures a closecontact of the pad 150 with the base 30, particularly proximate thecenter of the pad 150 and at the center of the base 30. In use, the base30 is fixed to the cap 90 with the attachment means 140. The flexiblepad 150 is fixed around the distal ends 70 of the fingers 50 such thatthe pad 150 may be applied to the surface 20 to scrub the surface 20.The fingers 50 and flexible pad 150 conform generally to the shape ofthe surface 20. The flexible pad 150 may be a sheet of fabric, such asterrycloth, a section of fabric with a plurality of folds (not shown), asheet of sponge material (not shown), or the like.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the flexible pad 150 maycomprises separate pockets (not shown) each for accepting therein one ofthe fingers 50, such that each finger 50 is more free to move withrespect to the other fingers 50.

An attachment means 140 for fixing the base 30 to the cap 90 at thecentral apertures 80,130 thereof is further included. The side portion100 of the cap 90 forces the fingers 50 of the base 30 into a downwarddirection, as well illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Preferably theattachment means 140 includes a bolt 190 having a shaft 200 and a head210 at one end 220 of the shaft 200 (FIG. 5C). The head 210 is larger indiameter than the aperture 80 of the base 30. The head 210 of the bolt190 has a lower side 250 for attaching to the back side 260 of theflexible pad 150 proximate the center of the flexible pad 150 with theattachment means 145, such as a hook and loop type fastening material, amechanical snap (not shown), or the like. Further, the cap 90 has areceiving aperture 230 in a top portion 240 of the aperture 130 thereof.The receiving aperture 230 receives the shaft 200 of the bolt 190.Preferably the shaft 200 is threaded, and the aperture 230 includes acooperating thread. Alternately, however, a friction fit between theaperture 230 and the shaft 200 or an adhesive (not shown) may be used.Other attachment means 140 could clearly be devised by those skilled inthe art, such as sonic welding, alternate mechanical means, or the like(not shown). Further, the cap 90 may be made integral with the resilientbase 30 if made from a suitably resilient material that providesrigidity to the fingers 50 in the downward direction, yet is resilientenough such that the fingers 50 may still flex upward into a compressedorientation (as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B).

Preferably a secondary resilient base 270 is included that has a centralaperture 280 therein for receiving the bolt 190. The secondary resilientbase 270 is positioned between the head 210 of the bolt 190 and theresilient base 50. As such, the lower side 250 of the head 210 of thebolt 190 may be positioned closer to the flexible pad 150 than the cap90 (FIG. 3B). The secondary resilient base 270 may further include arecess 290 for the head 210 of the bolt 190, such that the secondaryresilient base 270 and the flexible pad 150 attach flatly (FIG. 5A).Alternately, the head 210 of the bolt 190 may be embedded within thesecondary resilient base 270 (FIGS. 2B, 4 and 5D).

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the secondary resilientbase 270 includes brush bristles 335 (FIG. 5D). In this alternativeembodiment the flexible pad 150 has an opening 320 in the center thereofto allow the brush bristles 335 to make contact with the surface 20. Assuch, the attachment means 145 takes the shape of a ring surrounding theopening 320.

The secondary base 270 may include at least one scrubbing nib 300 forcontacting the back side of the pad 150 (FIG. 2B). As such, with thefingers 50 pressed firmly against the surface 20 each of the scrubbingnibs 300 contacts the back side 260 of the pad 150 to reinforce the pad150 against the surface 20. As such, additional scrubbing force may beapplied to the surface 20 when desired simply by pressing the scrubbingimplement 10 firmly into the surface 20 to cause the scrubbing nibs 300to contact the surface 20. The lower side 250 of the head 210 of thebolt 190 may also include at least one scrubbing nib 310 for contactingthe pad 150 (not shown).

The pad 150 may include the second smaller aperture 320 in theapproximate center of the pad 150, such that each scrubbing nib 300, 310of the secondary resilient pad 270 and the bolt 190 may traverse thesecond aperture 320 and contact the surface 20 directly when the fingers50 of the base 30 are pressed firmly against the surface 20 so that thefingers assume the compressed orientation (FIG. 4). Preferably eachscrubbing nib 300,310 is a resilient rubber material, a brush material,or a scraping material with a scraping edge 330 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Inthe embodiment including a scraping edge 330, preferably a longitudinalaxis 370 of the handle 350 is generally orthogonal to each scraping edge330, such that each scraping edge 330 contacts the surface 20 along theedge 330 in a direction orthogonal thereto, so as not to damage thesurface 20.

In another alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 6,the scrubbing implement 10 further includes a liquid-tight motor 420rigidly attached to the outside of the cap 90. The motor has a rotatingmotor shaft 450 that projects through the center of and into theinterior of the cap 90 and extends through the resilient base 30 and theflexible pad 150, preferably through a hollow aperture 95 in theattachment means 140 and preferably without making contact with the cap90, the resilient base 30, or the flexible pad 150. The motor 420 iselectrically connected to a power source 430, such as a battery or otherline current source, and a switch 440 is electrically disposedtherebetween for selectively activating the motor 420. Alternately, themotor 420 may be activated by a switch 440 that is depressed when upwardpressure is exerted on the motor shaft 450 (not shown) throughapplication thereof to the surface 20.

In such an embodiment, the secondary resilient base 270 may be rotatablyaffixed to the motor shaft 450 (FIG. 7), preferably in a readilydetachable fashion such as with a bolt 470 or push-actuated clampingmeans (not shown). A secondary flexible pad 460 is fixed to thesecondary resilient base 270 and includes a cleaning surface 155 on alower side thereof. The secondary resilient base 270 may include thebrush bristles 335. In use, such an embodiment allows for motorizedrotational scrubbing of the surface 20 when the fingers 50 are in thecompressed orientation and the switch 440 is actuated. Any water or soapthrown from the rotating secondary base 270 will be naturally caught ordeflected downward by the flexible pad 150 or the fingers 50.

The motor 420 and the power source 430 may alternately be mounted to thehandle 360 (not shown). In such an embodiment, the rotating motor shaft450 would further be connected to a rotation-transmitting cable to thecap 90. As such, the scrubbing implement 10 could be fully submerged ina bucket of soapy water, for example, without also submerging the motor420 (not shown).

In another alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 8and 9, the flexible pad further includes a plurality of absorbent mopstrands 480 each fixed at one end 484 thereof to the cleaning surface

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the round shape of the resilient base 30 and the pad 150 may bemodified to be oval, square, rectangular, or any other suitable shape(not shown). Likewise, the exact number of fingers 50 may be modifiedfrom that illustrated in the drawings. Accordingly, it is not intendedthat the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

1. A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface comprising: a rigid cap,the cap comprising an inside upper end and a wider open lower end; aresilient base attached to the inside upper end of the cap, the basecomprising a plurality of fingers extending radially outwards anddownward from within the cap, the downward angle of the fingers definedby the cap; a flexible pad that includes a cleaning surface on a lowerside thereof, the pad further including a peripheral lip forming anaperture in the pad for receiving distal ends of the each finger of thebase and an attachment means for attaching the pad proximate a centerthereof to the base proximate the center thereof; wherein the base andthe pad extend down and out from the inside of the cap and provide aresilient scrubbing surface for application to the surface, the fingersand the pad conforming to the shape of the surface, the pad conforminggenerally to the contour of the resilient base.
 2. The scrubbingimplement of claim 1 wherein a secondary resilient base is detachablyaffixed below and to the center of the base, the secondary base applyingadditional scrubbing force to the surface through the pad when thefingers of the base are in a compressed orientation.
 3. The scrubbingimplement of claim 2 wherein the pad includes a second smaller apertureproximate the center of the pad, whereby the secondary resilient basemakes contact with the surface when the fingers of the base are in thecompressed orientation.
 4. The scrubbing implement of claim 3 whereinthe secondary base further includes a brush.
 5. The scrubbing implementof claim 3 wherein the secondary base further includes a scraper.
 6. Thescrubbing implement of claim 1 further including a handle receivingmeans fixed to the cap and an elongated handle pivotally fixed thereto.7. The scrubbing implement of claim 1 wherein the flexible pad furtherincludes a plurality of absorbent mop strands each fixed at one endthereof to the cleaning surface of the pad.
 8. A scrubbing implement forcleaning a surface comprising: a rigid cap, the cap comprising an insideupper end and a wider open lower end; a resilient base attached to theinside upper end of the cap, the base comprising a plurality of fingersextending radially outwards and downward from within the cap, thedownward angle of the fingers defined by the cap; a motor attached tothe outside of the cap, the motor having a rotating motor shaft, themotor shaft projecting into the interior of the cap and extendingthrough the base and the pad without making substantial contact with thecap, the base, or the pad; a smaller secondary resilient base locatedunder the pad and affixed to the motor shaft; a flexible pad locatedunder and mounted to the base and including a second smaller apertureproximate the center of the pad, the secondary resilient baseprojectable therethrough when the fingers of the base are in acompressed orientation, the lower side of the pad forming a cleaningsurface; a flexible secondary pad located under and mounted to thesecondary base, the secondary pad including a cleaning surface on alower side thereof; wherein the base and the pad extend down and outfrom the inside of the cap and provide a resilient scrubbing surface forapplication to the surface, the fingers and the pad conforming to theshape of the surface, the secondary base and the secondary pad forming arotating cleaning surface that contacts the surface when the fingers ofthe base are in the compressed orientation.
 9. The scrubbing implementof claim 8 wherein the secondary base is detachably affixed to the motorshaft.
 10. The scrubbing implement of claim 9 wherein the secondary basefurther includes a brush.
 11. The scrubbing implement of claim 9 whereinthe secondary base further includes a scraper.
 12. The scrubbingimplement of claim 8 further including a handle receiving means fixed tothe cap and a handle pivotally fixed thereto.
 13. A scrubbing implementfor cleaning a surface, the scrubbing implement comprising: a resilientbase comprising a hub and a plurality of resilient fingers each joinedat a proximal end to the hub and extending radially away therefrom, eachfinger including a distal end opposite the proximal end thereof, the hubfurther including a central aperture therethrough; a rigid capcomprising a side portion fixed at a top end thereof to an upper end ofthe cap, the upper end including a central aperture therethrough; anattachment means for fixing the base to the cap at the central aperturesthereof, the attachment means including a bolt having a shaft and a headat one end of the shaft, the head being larger in diameter than theaperture of the base, the cap having a receiving aperture in a topportion of the aperture therein for receiving the shaft, the head of thebolt having a lower side for contacting a back side of the pad, the sideportion of the cap forcing the fingers of the base into a downwarddirection; a flexible pad includes a cleaning surface on a lower sidethereof, the pad further including a peripheral lip forming an aperturein the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base andan attachment means for attaching the pad proximate a center thereof tothe base proximate the center thereof; and a secondary resilient basehaving a central aperture therein for receiving the bolt, the secondaryresilient base positioned between the head of the bolt and the pad;whereby with the base fixed to the cap with the attachment means andwith the flexible pad fixed to base, the pad may be applied to thesurface to scrub the surface, the fingers and pad conforming to theshape of the surface, the lower side of the head of the bolt positionedcloser to the fabric pad than the cap.
 14. The scrubbing implement ofclaim 13 wherein the secondary resilient base includes a recess for thehead of the bolt, whereby the secondary resilient base is closer to thefabric pad than either the cap or the head of the bolt.
 15. Thescrubbing implement of claim 13 wherein the secondary resilient baseincludes at least one scrubbing nib for contacting the back side of thepad, whereby with the fingers pressed firmly against the surface each ofthe scrubbing nibs contacts the back side of the pad to reinforce thepad against the surface.
 16. The scrubbing implement of claim 15 whereinthe pad includes a second smaller aperture in the approximate center ofthe pad, whereby each scrubbing nib of the secondary resilient base maytraverse the second aperture and contact the surface when the fingers ofthe base are pressed firmly against the surface.
 17. The scrubbingimplement of claim 13 further including a handle receiving means fixedto the cap, the handle receiving means for pivotally receiving athreaded end of an elongated handle.